Series synopsis
The Life Of Riley is an American comedy television series that premiered on NBC on January 2, 1953. It stars William Bendix, Marjorie Reynolds, Tom D'Andrea and Lugene Sanders.
Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems.
Premise
Riley worked in an aircraft plant in California, but viewers usually saw him at home, cheerfully disrupting life with his malapropisms and ill timed intervention into minor problems.
Premise: 'What a revoltin' development this is!"
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- William Bendix as Chester A. Riley
- Marjorie Reynolds as Peg Riley
- Tom D'Andrea as Jim Gillis
- Lugene Sanders as Babs Riley
- Wesley Morgan as Junior Riley
- Vince Barnett as Herman
- William Boyett as Coach
- Dick Wessel as Squarehead Malloy
Supporting cast
- Gloria Blondell as Honeybee
- Nancy Kulp as Charlotte Lindsay
- Tom Nolan as Drake
- Zsa Zsa Gabor as Gigi
- Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Finnegan
- Joe Flynn as Jenkins
- Norma Varden as Mother
- Sam Flint as Judge
- Douglas Fowley as Eddie
- Arthur Shields as Mr. Winkley
- Henry Kulky as Otto Schmidlap
- Frances Robinson as Librarian
Guest cast
- Vince Barnett as Herman
- William Boyett as Coach
- Dick Wessel as Squarehead Malloy
- Gloria Blondell as Honeybee
- Nancy Kulp as Charlotte Lindsay
- Tom Nolan as Drake
- Zsa Zsa Gabor as Gigi
- Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Finnegan
- Joe Flynn as Jenkins
- Norma Varden as Mother
- Sam Flint as Judge
- Douglas Fowley as Eddie
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 219 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 26 | January 2, 1953 | June 26, 1953 |
| Season 2 | 39 | September 18, 1953 | June 18, 1954 |
| Season 3 | 41 | September 17, 1954 | June 24, 1955 |
| Season 4 | 39 | September 16, 1955 | June 8, 1956 |
| Season 5 | 39 | September 14, 1956 | June 7, 1957 |
| Season 6 | 35 | September 13, 1957 | May 23, 1958 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Babs' School Election Babs is running for President of her college's freshman class. Riley attempts to provide unwanted assistance to her election campaign meet with predictable disaster. |
January 2, 1953 |
| 2 |
Riley's Gift from the Boss Riley receives a letter from the president of the airplane plant in which he works, Cyrus P. Cunningham, announcing that the company will honor Riley's ten years of service with a luncheon in the boardroom the following day. |
January 9, 1953 |
| 3 |
Riley's New Suit Riley needs a new suit. When his kids decide to surprise him with one, he begins thinking he's crazy because the only suit he has to use keeps disappearing. |
January 16, 1953 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Riley's Stomach Ache A series of mix-ups convinces Riley he is mortally ill. |
September 18, 1953 |
| 2 |
Riley, the Animal Lover Riley learns that a cart horse he's fond of is to be "retired" so he purchases it. After he brings it home Peg insists Chester find a different place to keep it but he is at a loss as to what to do with the animal. |
September 25, 1953 |
| 3 |
Riley Faces Fatherhood Gillis decides to play a joke on his friend Riley, leading Chester to believe Peg is expecting again. Riley is both worried and excited about being a dad again and Peg doesn't understand her husband's kind behavior. |
October 2, 1953 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Junior's Secret Junior and Egbert are interested in buying a sailboat but keep their dads out of the loop. After overhearing talk, Riley and Gillis thinks the boys are getting serious with girls. Pops plans on stopping the non-existent relationship. |
September 17, 1954 |
| 2 |
Riley in the Wild Blue Yonder Riley has the notion to become a pilot and convinces his best friend Gillis to join in taking lessons. Over the protests of his family Riley perseveres with his idea until reality sets in. |
September 24, 1954 |
| 3 |
Riley and the Suggestion Contest A suggestion box is installed at work and Riley is soon in trouble with all of his "helpful" ideas. |
October 1, 1954 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letter of Introduction | September 16, 1955 |
| 2 | The Big Sacrifice | September 23, 1955 |
| 3 |
The Marines Have Landed Babs is worried when she hasn't heard from her marine boyfriend for awhile. Riley comes up with an outrageous scheme to cheer his little girl up which goes wrong and makes things worse. |
September 30, 1955 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Wire for Gillis Gillis gets a telegram from out of the blue and is secretive about its contents. Riley speculates wildly that his friend came into money and gets mad at Jim for being so mysterious. |
September 14, 1956 |
| 2 |
The First Quarrel Don wants to go fishing with his buddies and Babs gets upset that her new husband wants to spend time away from her. Despite being warned, Riley gets involved in the newlywed's marital troubles. |
September 21, 1956 |
| 3 | Buttering Up a Millionaire | September 28, 1956 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gossip | September 13, 1957 |
| 2 | Riley's Ups and Downs | September 20, 1957 |
| 3 |
The New Den Peg decides to turn a spare room into a den creating chaos in the Riley household, most of it caused by Chester. |
September 27, 1957 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | NBC |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 2, 1953 |
| Last aired | May 23, 1958 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | continue |
| Schedule | Friday at 20:30:00 |